Deportivo Saprissa wins UNCAF Quadrangular 1 Central Zone qualifying

Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica won the Union Centroamericana de Fútbol (UNCAF) Quadrangular 1 Central American qualifying for the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup after defeating Diriangén FC (NCA) 5:0 at the Estadio Cacique Diriangén in Ciudad de Diriamba, Nicaragua on Sunday.

Kénneth Vargas opened the scoring for Deportivo Saprissa (3-0-0, 9 Points) in the fifth minute-mark and then an own goal by Diriangén's Denis Camacho made it 2:0 seven minutes later.

After Rándall Azofeifa gave Deportivo Saprissa a 3:0 edge before halftime, Vargas and Esteban Santana scored in the 47th and 55th minutes, respectively for the 5:0 final over Diriangén (0-2-1, 1 Point).

The victory gives Deportivo Saprissa first-place in the Quadrangular 1 and one of the four berths into the UNCAF Final Round set for 17-21 December 2003 at a site to be determined. CD F.A.S. awaits a possible berth as the best-second place finisher from the quadrangulars.

The second UNCAF quadrangular is slated for Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala from 28 October - 2 November, with CSD Comunicaciones and CSD Municipal hosting Deportivo árabe Unido (PAN) and San Salvador FC (SLV), while the third quadrangular is set for San Pedro Sula, Honduras from the 3-5 November and is composed of CD Olimpia (HON), CD Marathón (HON), San Francisco FC (PAN) and LD Alajuelense (CRC).

The top three finishers from the UNCAF Final Round Quadrangular will qualify to the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The remaining 2004 breakdown of teams for the Champions Cup will feature two clubs each from Mexico and USA along with one qualifying from the Caribbean Zone (Caribbean Football Union).